Cheltenham 2018: Gold Cup defending champion Sizing John out of this year's race

Trainer Jessica Harrington has announced that the defending champions is out of the 2018 race next week.

The eight-year-old carried all before him last season, but this campaign has not gone to plan after an impressive return in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown in December.

He was sent off the hot favourite after that to win the Leopardstown Christmas Chase but was well-beaten in seventh place.

While Harrington was hopeful he was returning to his best in time for the festival, a ‘hairline non-displaced fracture of his pelvis’ has dashed plans.

Harrington said: "It is with a heavy heart I have to report that Sizing John will miss the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

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“He cantered as normal this morning at Commonstown and during routine checks this afternoon was found to be sore behind.

"I have had our vet Mark McRedmond come and check him over. He has found a hairline non-displaced fracture of his pelvis.

“He will have box rest for two weeks and then be rescanned with a view of starting walking exercise.

"This is a massive blow for the Potts family and for all our team here at Commonstown."

Harrington is still set to be represented in the Gold Cup through Our Duke.